Around the region: THP finishes 2nd in contest

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Highway Patrol has finished second in the 2011 National Law Enforcement Challenge.

It was based on traffic safety enforcement, officer training, public information and crash reduction.

The THP finished third in 2009 and 2010, and first in 2006.

This year it competed in the state police/highway patrol category for agencies with 501 to 1,000 officers. The competition was sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Elk hunt permit on eBay auction

NASHVILLE -- The final permit for Tennessee's third managed elk hunt will go to the successful bidder in an eBay auction starting Thursday through July 23.

Proceeds from the auction benefit the state's elk restoration program.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency donated a permit to a non-governmental organization to join four others picked in a computer drawing.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation received this year's donated special take permit.

The 2011 hunt is set Oct. 17 through Oct. 21 at the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area in East Tennessee.

ARKANSAS

Man arrested in fatal shooting

BLYTHEVILLE -- Blytheville Police have arrested a man in connection with a deadly shooting last week.

Officers say Allen Stewart was taken into custody Wednesday evening. He appeared in Mississippi County Circuit Court on Thursday and bond was set at $1 million.

Authorities say Christopher Marshall drove himself to Dodge's Chicken Store July 7 after he was shot while sitting in his car.

He walked into the store bleeding and asked for help from employees, who along with police officers tried to revive him after he collapsed. An ambulance transported him to a local hospital where he died.

Town ordinance bans pit bulls

TRUMANN -- A new ordinance bans pit bull terriers and other types of dogs inside the limits of an eastern Arkansas city.

Members of the Trumann City Council on Tuesday approved the ordinance barring American pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and other specific breeds.

The ordinance permits pit bull owners to "grandfather" their dogs into the city if they register the animals with the Trumann Animal Control Office within 60 days. Otherwise, the dogs must be removed from the city limits or be taken into custody and possibly euthanized after 11 days.

Suspect tried to abduct two girls

VIOLA -- Arkansas State Police are looking for a man who is accused of trying to kidnap two young girls near Viola.

Investigators said Thursday that two 9-year-old girls were playing outside a home on U.S. Highway 62 in Fulton County when a man tried to lure them into a pickup truck.

A woman inside the home told police she heard the girls scream and went outside, where she saw a man walking away from the girls toward the truck.

State police described the suspect as a heavyset white male with bushy red hair. The man may be missing several teeth.

Witnesses told police the man's truck is a blue mid-1990's Toyota, with a silver or white stripe along the bottom of the vehicle.